Wonder if this would work for a downwind situation? Seems the speeds you get on a downwind could easily lift the board on hydrofoil. Could make for some macking downwind speed.


When paddling at speeds less than 10 km/h (2.8 m/s), the Flyak behaves just like a stable, conventional kayak. When the speed increases to just under take-off speed, the front foil first lifts until it is about one chord length under the surface, and the Flyak is tilted about 1 degree backwards.
When the speed is about 25% higher than the take-off speed, the hull is lifted out of the water. Top Speed can be more than 50% higher than ???take-off??? speed. At top speed, both foils are less than one chord length under the surface.
There are no flaps or any other mechanisms that sense the surface to keep the Flyak level. About one chord length under the surface, the lifting ability of a hydrofoil decreases, so the Flyak is kept level by simply ???leaning??? the foils up against the surface. The foil winglets give added lift and directional stability
The Flyak is a kayak with hydrofoils, and was invented by Peter Ribe and Einar Rasmussen, who both are world class paddlers. As the name implies, the Flyak "flies", as the entire hull lifts out of the water.
One of Rasmussen???s long-term goals is for the Flyak to replace racing kayaks in Olympic competitions.
The more surface area of a hull "rubbing" against water, the greater the resistance. The hydrofoil concept reduces this wetted area to a fraction, by utilizing the wing-effect. Once the rider works the speed up to roughly 10 KMH (6 MPH), the Flyak is ready for take-off. Theoretically, the Flyak can achieve speeds nearly twice as fast as conventional championship-level racing kayaks.
However, you can not go very long distances on foils because it takes intense energy for the paddler to keep up on the foils.
Rhino model for production

Sick!

I wonder how they would fair coming in the surf though?

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husq2100 said..

Sick!

I wonder how they would fair coming in the surf though?

look this vid??o from 2010 cast in Brittany

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Kami said..

husq2100 said..

Sick!

I wonder how they would fair coming in the surf though?

look this video from 2010 cast in Brittany

What's really interesting is how easy the transition from displacement, planing to foiling seems to be. That really would be great if you could get something that was fast and stable enough to stand on getting into runners, yet light and maneuverable enough to get up onto the foil. I would definitely buy one of those !

everyone pictured in that video is an Olympic level male paddler , and the force needed to "lift "the kayak onto the foils is enormous ,also whilst the boat is in the water its a pure drag fest. it would be interesting if a SUP could get fast enough to lift out and then your paddle would need to be a few foot longer too?

Laird was riding hydro foil boards years ago. Just a gimmicky thing.

Foils are everywhere on kites here, for the average rider. it definitely is not a gimmick.
On SUPs, seems like the gains are not woth the pains... yet?